BAUME’S REEASE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 13 November 1926, Page 5

BAUME’S REEASE

DEMAND FOR INQUIRY. MINISTER’S STATEMENT. MR HOWARD ELLIOTT’S REPLY. (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 13. Tli© Minister of Justice, the Hon. F. J. Rolleston, in reply to demands for an inquiry into Baume’s release, says: “Tlie object of setting up the Prisons Board was to remove such matters entirely from political or other influence, and to bring skilled knowledge to bear on each case. The board had functioned for over 15 years, and had dealt with thousands of cases, and, never before had its decision been questioned, which should be accepted as sufficient guarantee of the nature of its work. The Government does not propose, because some people may think that the board lias erred, to set up a commission to enquire into its action. There is, however, no objection to a public enquiry into the allegation of preferential treatment to Baume by the prison authorities, and if Mr Howard Elliott produces his affidavits and formulates charges, a Magisterial commission will lie set up at once.” In reply to this Mr Elliott says:— “If there is an inquiry it must bei into all phases of the matter, and not restricted to preferential treatment. The appointment of the present ControllerGeneral of Prisons must be included too, and the board of inquiry must be composed of men independent of the Government and the Public Service Commissioner. ’ ’